A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS 

THE TONGUE IS MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD  

Ephesians 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”  

Your tongue possesses great power. Your words can have great impact upon yourself and others. With your words, you have the potential to bring death or life. The words you choose have the potential to shape your experiences and relationships. Solomon wrote, “The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” (Proverbs 12:18) 

James wrote, “Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.” (James 1:26) The Psalmist wrote, “Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” (Psalm 34:12-14) Today’s devotional verse found in Ephesians 4:29 says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”  

What is in your heart, and flows from it, controls your tongue. Jesus elaborated on the importance of what is in your heart: “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit . . . For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him . . . For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:33-37)   Luther’s explanation of the 8th Commandment exhorts you to speak kind words about your neighbor. As a Christian you have the words of salvation, hope, and love to speak to all. You are Christ’s ambassador sent by Him into the world to speak the Good News of His love and forgiveness for sinners. (2 Corinthians 5:20) God has given you your tongue to speak His Good News to build up those who hear even unto their eternal life. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father, You with a tongue to speak words. Grant that the words I speak are good and right building up those who hear from me Your Words. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Come, Thou Fount of ev’ry blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
While the hope of endless glory
Fills my heart with joy and love,
Teach me ever to adore Thee,
May I still Thy goodness prove. 

Here I raise my Ebenezer,
Hither by Thy help I’ve come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wand’ring from the fold of god;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood. 

Oh, to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be;
Let that grace now like a fetter
Bind my wand’ring heart to Thee;
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it;
Prone to leave the God I love,
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above. 

Oh, that day when freed from sinning,
I shall see Thy lovely face;
Clothed then in the blood-washed linen,
How I’ll sing Thy wondrous grace!
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry;
Take my ransom’d soul away;
Send Thine angels soon to carry
Me to realms of endless day.  (LSB 686)